.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answerMorocco is a country in Northern Africa, with a population of 36,828,330 (2024). Its capital is Rabat, its official languages are Arabic and Tamazight, and its currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). It covers 446,550 square kilometres (172,414 square miles), and its time zone is Africa/Casablanca.
Morocco is a country in North Africa, home to about 37 million people. Its capital is Rabat, its largest city is Casablanca, and its official languages are Arabic and Tamazight.
Key facts
| Capital | Rabat |
|---|---|
| Population | 36,828,330 (2024) · 36.8 million |
| Population density | 82.5 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 446,550 km² (172,414 sq mi) total · 446,300 km² (172,317 sq mi) land |
| Official languages | Arabic (official), Tamazight (official) |
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD, د.م.) |
| Time zone | Africa/Casablanca |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy |
| Coastline | 1,835 km |
| Highest point | Jebel Toubkal, 4,167 m |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 years (2023) |
| Calling code | +212 |
| Driving side | Right |
| Internet domain | .ma |
Overview
Morocco sits in the Maghreb region of North Africa, on the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, just 14 kilometres from Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar. It has land borders with Algeria to the east and with the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on its northern coast, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara lies to the south. It covers 446,550 square kilometres, not counting Western Sahara, with 1,835 kilometres of coastline. The Atlas Mountains run across the country, rising to Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167 metres, and the Sahara begins to the south of them.
About 36.8 million people lived in Morocco in the 2024 census, and the population has since risen to about 37 million. Around 67 per cent of Moroccans live in towns and cities, above all in Casablanca, the largest city, with about 3.2 million people, and the Rabat-Salé area around the capital. Arabic and Tamazight are the official languages, and French is widely used in business, education and the media. Life expectancy at birth was 75.3 years in 2023, and the median age was 30.6 years.
The region has been inhabited for more than 300,000 years, and the first Moroccan state was founded by Idris I in 788. Under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties Morocco ruled an empire stretching across North Africa and into Spain, and the Alaouite dynasty has ruled since 1631. France and Spain set up a protectorate in 1912, and Morocco regained independence in 1956. King Mohammed VI has reigned since 1999, and the country is a unitary parliamentary monarchy with an elected parliament.
Today Morocco's economy rests on farming, phosphates, car manufacturing and tourism, and it is Africa's leading industrial economy. Its cities are among the most visited in Africa: the medinas of Fez and Marrakesh, the blue streets of Chefchaouen, the Atlantic port of Essaouira and the desert town of Merzouga. Morocco will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, and its national team reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, the first African team ever to do so.
Notable facts
- Morocco's population was 36,828,330 in the 2024 census, the country's seventh national census.
- Jebel Toubkal, at 4,167 metres, is the highest mountain in Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains and in all of North Africa.
- The University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, founded in 859, is recognised by UNESCO and Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
- The Medina of Fez, Fes el Bali, was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981; it is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.
- Casablanca, with about 3.2 million people, is the largest city in Morocco and the largest city in the Maghreb region.
How Morocco compares
Comparison table — Morocco next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco ★ | 36,828,330 (2024) | 446,550 km² | 82.5 people per km² | Rabat |
| Algeria | 47,435,312 (2025) | 2,381,741 km² | 19.9 people per km² | Algiers |
| Spain | 49,801,559 (2026) | 505,992 km² | 99.8 people per km² | Madrid |
| Egypt | 120,101,175 (2026) | 1,010,408 km² | 120.7 people per km² | Cairo |
Cities in Morocco
- Casablanca Known for Hassan II Mosque
- Fès Known for University of al-Qarawiyyin
- Marrakesh Known for Jemaa el-Fnaa
- Rabat Known for National capital
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Morocco?
The capital of Morocco is Rabat, on the Atlantic coast in the north-west of the country, at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river. It has about 516,000 people in the city itself (2024 census) and about 2.1 million in the metropolitan area with Salé and Témara. Rabat has been the capital since 1912 and is home to the Royal Palace, the parliament and the Hassan Tower.
What is the population of Morocco?
Morocco had a population of 36,828,330 in the 2024 census, the seventh national census, held from 1 to 30 September 2024. The population has since risen to about 37 million. About 67 per cent of Moroccans live in towns and cities, above all in Casablanca, the largest city, with about 3.2 million people.
What language is spoken in Morocco?
Arabic and Tamazight are the official languages of Morocco. Moroccan Arabic, called Darija, is the language of daily life for most people, and about a quarter of Moroccans speak a Berber language, above all Tashelhit, Central Atlas Tamazight and Tarifit. French is widely used in business, education and the media, although it is not an official language.
What currency is used in Morocco?
Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD, symbol د.م.). Banknotes come in denominations up to 200 dirhams. Cash is still common in markets and small shops, but cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger stores in the cities. The dirham is not freely convertible outside Morocco, so visitors change money on arrival.
Where is Morocco?
Morocco is in North Africa, in the Maghreb, on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Algeria to the east and the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on its northern coast, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara lies to the south. Spain is just 14 kilometres away across the Strait of Gibraltar. The Atlas Mountains run across the country, and the Sahara begins to the south of them.
What time zone is Morocco in?
Morocco uses the Africa/Casablanca time zone, which is UTC+1 for most of the year. Unusually, the clocks go back to UTC+0 during the month of Ramadan, then return to UTC+1. There is a single time zone across the whole country, from Tangier in the north to the edge of the Sahara in the south.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- Casablanca — city in Morocco
- Fès — city in Morocco
- Marrakesh — city in Morocco
- Rabat — capital of Morocco
- Algeria — neighbouring country
- Spain — neighbouring country
- Egypt — another country in Northern Africa
- Sudan — another country in Northern Africa
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Morocco
- Haut-Commissariat au Plan (HCP), RGPH 2024 — legal population 36,828,330
- Wikipedia — List of countries and dependencies by length of coastline (CIA World Factbook figures)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by median age (CIA World Factbook 2024 estimates)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by life expectancy (United Nations, 2023 estimates)
- Worldometer — Morocco Population (United Nations World Urbanization Prospects)
- UNESCO — Medina of Fez (World Heritage List)
- mledoze/countries (skeleton: borders, capital, languages, tld, coordinates, subregion)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.